Purse-carrying strap and frame assembly

ABSTRACT

A carrying strap and purse frame assembly having purse frame members pivoted at opposite ends on hinge pin connections and a strap hung on an anchoring element fitted on one of said pins. In preferred form a French clutch purse structure has a wrist strap anchoring element pivotally mounted with respect to the pin, the strap at the user&#39;&#39;s option being concealable by inserting between a sidewall and an overlying panel section of the purse construction.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Dana B. Collings Springfield;Douglas J. Broughton, Agawam, both of Mass. 21 App1.No. 862,686 [22]Filed Oct. 1, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 19, 1971 [73] AssigneeBuxton,lncorporated Agawam, Mas.

[54] PURSE-CARRYING STRAP AND FRAME ASSEMBLY 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 150/29, 150/33 [51] Int. (1 A45c 1/04 [50] Field of Search150/29, 33; 224/28 R, 28 A, 28 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,562,408 1 1/1925 Berkowitz 150/33 7/1933 Hiering 1,998,5544/1935 Mil1s..... 150/33 3,330,322 7/1967 Frost 150/29 3,354,925 11/1967Doppelt 150/33 FOREIGN PATENTS 955,687 7/1949 France 150/29 466,61211/1951 Italy 150/29 Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney-Chapin,Neal and Dempsey ABSTRACT: A carrying strap and purse frame assemblyhaving purse frame members pivoted at opposite ends on hinge pinconnections and a strap hung on an anchoring element fitted on one ofsaid pins. In preferred form a French clutch purse structure has a wriststrap anchoring element pivotally mounted with respect to the pin, thestrap at the user's option being concealable by inserting between asidewall and an overlying panel section of the purse construction.

PATENTEDum 19 I97! 3. 6 l 3 759 INVENTOR. DANA B. COLUNGS DOUGLAS 3'.BROUGHTON PURSE-CARRYING STRAP AND FRAME ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND Thisinvention relates to carrying strap constructions for conventional typesof purses having pivoted frame members on which are hung the upper edgesof a pouch of suitable flexible material forming the purse receptacle.Such frame members are commonly of metal, of generally U-shapedconfiguration, and hingedly connected at their opposite ends on hingepins. The frame members also have centrally disposed interfering catchelements for releasable snap action in pivotally opening and closing thesame on the hinge pin connections.

- The invention is particularly adaptable to smaller purses of the typewhich may be grasped by the hand for carrying purposes and in apreferred form has special advantageous features when combined with awell-known French clutch purse type of construction;

. In the prior art various and sundry carrying strap arrangements may befound in which the strap is mounted in a great variety of ways. Insofaras is known, however, a carrying strap, preferably in the form of aclosed loop for grasping by the hand or slipping over the wrist has notheretofore existed with the strap anchoring element being connecteddirectly on one of the hinge pins of the purse frame and rotatabletherewith.

In practicing the invention in its simplest form a strap which may be ofthe closed loop form is fitted on an anchoring element, such as a smallmetal ring or hoop, and the latter attached directly on the outer headedend of one of the hinge pins of'the purse frame. Thus, without alteringthe normal conventional structure of the purse in any way, a carryingstrap may be added to the assembly and the strap mounting can swivelwith the hinge pin by reason of the rotatable connection of the latterrelative to the purse. In an alternative form the purse frame hinge pinmay be provided with an enlarged outer-headed end on which the anchoringhoop or ring is itself pivoted on an axis normal to the pin axis so thatfurther flexibility is provided for the strap connection in the mannerof -a universal coupling. The preferred form of the invention whenincorporated with a French clutch purse as disclosed herein hasparticular advantageous features. From the standpoint of normal purseconstruction a single hinge pin requires an enlarged head for pivotingthe anchoring hoop. The strap is available for loosely carrying thepurse; or by encircling the wrist affords convenient protection againstpurse snatching" without unduly hindering access to the pursecompartments by the person carrying it. And in the event use of thestrap is not desired for any reason it may be tucked into concealedposition in an unobstrusive manner between the purse walls and the purseused in the normal fashion without regard to the strap.

The objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description and accompanying drawings.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a French clutch purse equippedwith a carrying strap embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end'elevation of the purse of FIG. 1 indicating alternativeconcealed positions of the strap, when not desired for use and tuckedout of sight in the assembly shown;

FIG. 3 is a plan view with portions cut away of the side of the purse asviewed from the left in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale showingthe purse frame hinge pin connection and the strap-anchoring elementattached thereto for swiveling action; and

FIG. 5 is a detail view showing an alternative arrangement for attachingthe strap-anchoring element to the hinge pin.

In the drawings a French clutch purse of a common and well-known type ofconstruction is generally indicated by numeral 2. Such purses have beenwidely available on the market for a number of years and the presentinvention is illustrated in combination therewith as a preferredembodiment which offers a number of advantageous features as will bemore particularly described below. It will be recognized, however, thatthe novel frame and strap assembly herein disclosed may be adapted foruse with other and simpler types of purse constructions.

The carrying strap 4 which may be of a suitable flexible material asleather or the like is here shown in the loop fonn. It is anchored as bythe small metal hoop at 6 to an outer enlarged cylindrical head portionof a hinge pin 10 (see FIG. 4) on which the purse frame members arepivoted as will be described. The loop of the strap 4 may be formed froma single strip as shown, the free ends being overlapped and fastened asby rivet 5 adjacent the metal hoop 6 (see FIG. 1).

Pin 10 (FIG. 4) at its inner end is provided with a conventionalrivetlike head 12, the pin 10 being rotatable relative to the ends ofthe frame members held thereon between the enlarged head 8 and head 12.As best seen from FIG. 2 hoop 6 may be suitably pivoted on the head 8 byinserting opposite ends 14 of the hoop into opposing ends of a centralthrough bore of the head. Thus the hoop as a strap-anchoring element ismounted for pivotal action on the head and in turn is rotatable withrespect to the frame ends in the manner of a universal coupling.Accordingly, the strap is connected to the frame for a free-swivellingaction relative to the purse.

An alternative arrangement for attaching the strap-anchoring element onthe hinge pin or purse frame members is shown by FIG. 5. Here, a hoop 60carrying a strap 40 is fitted on the outer end of a hinge pin 100, as onthe head at 108, and may be fixed thereto by suitably welding, braising,or soldering the inner ends to the head. It may be noted in this examplethat the head 108 of pin I00 is a conventional form of hinge pin head asis commonly found in such purse frame constructions. Accordingly, thestrap connection in this arrangement requires only the attachment of thehoop 60 to the head 108 in order to practice the invention. Beingrigidly fixed on the pin, however, it lacks the added pivotal action ofthe preferred form provided with the enlarged head 8 as in FIGS. 1, 2,and 4.

Preferably, the strap is of a size for the fingers and palm of a hand tobe inserted through the loop and slipped over the users wrist. In suchposition the purse 2 may then be clutched in the hand after the usualfashion with the added convenience and protection of the strap engagingthe wrist. This may be appreciated by visualizing the hand passingthrough loop 4 of FIG. 1 toward the top of the purse and the hand thenturned to grasp the purse between the fingers and palm. Mostconveniently, the bottom of the purse may thus be held for opening thesame with the other hand and gaining access either to the compartmentsof the purse or to the bill and card-containing pockets of the panelstructure which will now be described.

The construction of the typical French clutch purse shown by thedrawings (FIGS. 1-4) includes three typical purse frame members, eachbeing U-shaped in outline having upper closure bars at 20, 22, and 24(FIG. 2) with legs therefor at 26, 28, and 30 respectively. Connectingthe lower ends of each set of legs are hinge pins, one set being pivotedas on the hinge pin 10 shown by FIG. 4, the other set being pivoted on aconventional headed pin such as the pin shown by FIG. 5 (i.e. withoutthe hoop 60).

The two outer frame members are fitted in conventional fashion with acloth pouch indicated generally by numeral 32 and forming the pursesection. The intermediate frame member carries a divider (see also FIG.4) to provide a pair of purse compartments as will be readilyunderstood. The crossbar 22 of the intermediate frame member alsocarries a catchplate 34 for interfering engagement with the rounded endsof the catch pieces 36 fixed on the outer crossbars 20 and 24 for purseopening and closing engagement as will be readily understood in the art.

Also carried by outer crossbar 20, but not engaged by the legs as 26, isan outer panel wall section 38 extending in separated overlying relationto the adjacent side of purse section 32. Wall 38 continues beyond thebottom of purse section 32 and provides the free end panel section at42. In an opened condition the panel section 42 may be swung to extendin an in-line" position with respect to wall 38 for access to thepockets at the inner side of the panel sections. In a closed conditionsection 42 is turned upwardly as shown to lie against the opposite sideof the purse in which position it may be releasably closed by a snapbutton connection. At this side of the purse and carried by the crossbar24 is a panel 44 in separated overlying and covering relation to section32. The lower end portion of the panel 44 extends underneath the bottomof the pouch 32 and is typically joined as at 46 with the panel 38. Thismay be along a lower free edge of a conventional cloth pocket wall (notshown) overlying the inner face of panel 38. The side edges of such apocket wall may be attached as along the marginal edges of panel section38, the upper edge being secured by the crossbar together with the upperedge of panel 38 and the adjacent upper edge of the purse section 32.When in the open inline" condition of panel 42 access to such a pocketis between the outer end of panel 44 and panel 38, the formation anddimensions of the pocket being typically designed to receive papercurrency, etc.

Against the inner face of the panel section 42 conventional panel wallsare also provided to form additional compartments or pockets. Entrancesto such pockets are indicated at 48 and 50 and the construction thereoffor inserting cards and other papers, bills, etc. will be readilyappreciated by those familiar with the art.

Also carried by crossbar 24 a flap 52 is fitted with a recessed catch at54 to receive snap button 56 on a pocket wall of the panel 42 forreleasably closing" panel 42 against panel 44.

The construction and swiveling action of the strap assembly on the purseframe hinge pin has been described previously, the attachment in theclutch purse disclosure being centrally of the ends for a balancedsuspension thereof by the strap. From the above description of theFrench clutch purse construction it will also be seen that the strap maybe effectively concealed in unobstrusive fashion, if desired, by tuckingthe same at either side of the pouch 32 inwardly of panel 44 (seefull-line hoop 6, HO. 2) or inwardly of panel 38 (sec dot-dash positionand H6. 3). The swivel connection of the strap attaching hoop 6 thuspermits effective strap concealment and convenient use of the purse inthe heretofore conventional manner without interference in any way.

What is claimed is:

l. A purse frame and carrying strap construction comprismg a pair ofU-shaped frame members provided with matching crossbar portions and legportions, said leg portions at their outer ends having hinge pinspivotally joining said frame members at opposite ends thereof for frameopening and closing action,

one of said hinge pins being freely rotatable relative to the legportions joined thereby, and

a strap-attaching element on said hinge pin outwardly of the frames andmounted for pivotal movement of said element on an axis normal to pinaxis, and a carrying strap member attached to said element.

2. The construction of claim 1, in which said rotatable hinge pin isprovided with an enlarged head having aligned openings at opposite sidesthereof, and

said attaching element is in the form of a hoop having opposed free endsinserted in said aligned openings.

3. The construction of claim 1, in which a purse pouch is supported bysaid U-shaped frame members and,

from the crossbar portions of said frame members are hung panel membersoverlying opposite sides of said pouch in separated covering relation,

the panel members being joined adjacent the bottom of the pouch wherebysaid strap may be inserted in an inactive concealed position between oneside of said pouch and the said panel member overl in said one side. 4.ln purse construction of t e rench clutch purse type having:

a purse pouch provided with opposed elongated U-shaped frame membershaving crossbar portions and legs, the legs being pivotally mounted atthe outer ends thereof on hinge pins and the frame crossbar portionshaving interfering catch pieces for releasable purse pouch closingaction,

first and second panel members supported by said crossbars and overlyingopposite sides of said pouch in separated covering relation,

the first panel adjacent the bottom of said pouch having the lower edgeof said second panel connected thereto,

said first panel extending beyond said connection and having a free endpanel section foldable upwardly against the outer face of said secondpanel with means for releasably engaging the same thereagainst:

the improvement which comprises a strap-attaching element affixed to thehead of one of said hinge pins and rotatable therewith relative to saidframe members, and a carrying strap attached thereto.

5. The construction of claim 4, in which,

said strap attaching element is affixed to an enlarged head portion ofsaid frame hinge pin by a pivotal mounting connection for movement on anaxis normal to the pin axis, and

said strap is in the form of a hand and wrist engageable flexible loopmounted on said pivoted attaching element and is of a length less thanthe width of said purse for inserting between one of the sides of saidpouch and the panel overlying said one side.

1. A purse frame and carrYing strap construction comprising a pair ofU-shaped frame members provided with matching crossbar portions and legportions, said leg portions at their outer ends having hinge pinspivotally joining said frame members at opposite ends thereof for frameopening and closing action, one of said hinge pins being freelyrotatable relative to the leg portions joined thereby, and astrap-attaching element on said hinge pin outwardly of the frames andmounted for pivotal movement of said element on an axis normal to pinaxis, and a carrying strap member attached to said element.
 2. Theconstruction of claim 1, in which said rotatable hinge pin is providedwith an enlarged head having aligned openings at opposite sides thereof,and said attaching element is in the form of a hoop having opposed freeends inserted in said aligned openings.
 3. The construction of claim 1,in which a purse pouch is supported by said U-shaped frame members and,from the crossbar portions of said frame members are hung panel membersoverlying opposite sides of said pouch in separated covering relation,the panel members being joined adjacent the bottom of the pouch wherebysaid strap may be inserted in an inactive concealed position between oneside of said pouch and the said panel member overlying said one side. 4.In purse construction of the French clutch purse type having: a pursepouch provided with opposed elongated U-shaped frame members havingcrossbar portions and legs, the legs being pivotally mounted at theouter ends thereof on hinge pins and the frame crossbar portions havinginterfering catch pieces for releasable purse pouch closing action,first and second panel members supported by said crossbars and overlyingopposite sides of said pouch in separated covering relation, the firstpanel adjacent the bottom of said pouch having the lower edge of saidsecond panel connected thereto, said first panel extending beyond saidconnection and having a free end panel section foldable upwardly againstthe outer face of said second panel with means for releasably engagingthe same thereagainst: the improvement which comprises a strap-attachingelement affixed to the head of one of said hinge pins and rotatabletherewith relative to said frame members, and a carrying strap attachedthereto.
 5. The construction of claim 4, in which, said strap attachingelement is affixed to an enlarged head portion of said frame hinge pinby a pivotal mounting connection for movement on an axis normal to thepin axis, and said strap is in the form of a hand and wrist engageableflexible loop mounted on said pivoted attaching element and is of alength less than the width of said purse for inserting between one ofthe sides of said pouch and the panel overlying said one side.